Minn. farmers foiled on Cuba biz

Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota on Friday vetoed a resolution that urged Congress and President Bush to end trade, financial and travel restrictions with Cuba. The proposal passed the Minnesota House on April 17, 86 votes to 9. "Forwarding this resolution to the federal government would have Minnesota promoting a position that is contradictory to the long-standing policy of the United States," the governor wrote. Although Pawlenty acknowledged the desire of Minnesota farmers to sell their products to Cuba, he said it is not up to the state legislature to deal with foreign policy. Expanded trade with Cuba will come when the Cuban government adopts democratic principles, said Pawlenty, a Republican. "The Cuban government is totalitarian," he wrote in a letter to a Senate leader. "Significant progress needs to be made before the United States should consider establishing full diplomatic and commercial relations with Cuba." Minnesota exported more than $18 million in agricultural products to Cuba in 2007, including corn, soybeans, wheat, beans, powdered milk and dairy cattle. The state began trading with the island in 2002.
---Renato Pérez Pizarro

Comments

[Walter Lippmann]

Vetoing Minnesota's legislative position favoring expanded business and trade with Cuba, Minnesota's Republican governor justified her decision on the basis that, "it is not up to the state legislature to deal with foreign policy."

Yet travel to Cuba by Cuban Americans for family reasons, and other visits by a small number of US-based business people and journalists are completely legal undercertain very restrictive provisions of U.S. law.

Yet in Tallahassee, Florida's legislature is trying regulate completely legal travel out of existence, as the Cuban Colada column has finally pointed out.

Why should Minnesota stay out of Federal politics while it's find for Florida to meddle above and beyond Federal law?

[Walter Lippmann]

Vetoing Minnesota's legislative position favoring expanded business and trade with Cuba, Minnesota's Republican governor justified her decision on the basis that, "it is not up to the state legislature to deal with foreign policy."

Yet travel to Cuba by Cuban Americans for family reasons, and other visits by a small number of US-based business people and journalists are completely legal undercertain very restrictive provisions of U.S. law.

Yet in Tallahassee, Florida's legislature is trying regulate completely legal travel out of existence, as the Cuban Colada column has finally pointed out.

Why should Minnesota stay out of Federal politics while it's find for Florida to meddle above and beyond Federal law?